You don't consider the 9861 a sq deck?

Find a H900 and go optical into it... Or even the H701 is pretty good.

Here's my issue with a "sq" deck. Say you use a Denon DCT-1... it's phenominal but a signal chain is only as good as it's weakest link. So, unless you're going to use Rane analog processors or something, you end up having the deck do a D/A conversion, the processor coverting A/D to process, then another D/A conversion out.

So, the head unit is limited by the processor, unless you use optical out. Then, the D/A's in the headunit and the output stage, which are most of the equasion for SQ, are unused. Also, you're giving up your radio, and volume control out of the headunit.

So, you've spent 2k on a transport. You've given up radio and convienent volume control. You still have to buy some kind of optical in processor, and find a way to control the volume.

Gotta admit, that's the beauty of systems like XES, ODR, F1, etc. All your processing is purely digital, full functionality, etc.

Or on a budget, Alpine HU with digital out to H701, or P9 combo.

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Alpine IVA-W200
Alpine PXA-H701 optical
Blade SE6175
Morel Elate 6 3 way active
Sony XM2000R
MTX 12" 7000 x 3 freeair

Finally moving into the 21st century...